BOX OFFICE REPORT (MARCH 15-17): 'Oz the Great and Powerful' Works Its Magic a Second Weekend While 'Wonderstone' Flops

I'm not sure what to talk about first here, the continued blockbuster performance of Oz the Great and Powerful or the possibly career-crushing flop of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Let's go with Oz first, since that's a much happier story. Disney had hoped that Oz would be a hit, but I don't think they expected the movie to be this successful. While it's not quite The Avengers, a $42.22 million second weekend is not small feat. In fact, Oz's second-weekend gross is the highest since The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 raked in $43.64 million last November. With the wheels already in motion, Disney will be eager to get a sequel to this movie into theaters as soon as they can.

Now for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Yikes on bikes, this one flopped. Ten years ago, Jim Carrey and Steve Carell starred in Bruce Almighty. That movie opened to $67.93 million, which still stands as the biggest opening weekend for each actor. Can either of these guys be counted on to open a movie anymore?

1. Oz the Great and Powerful (1)
$42.22 million ($145.03 million)
I saw Oz the Great and Powerful this past weekend, and I actually enjoyed the film. I'd love to see director Sam Raimi's pre-PG cut, since the movie's weakest parts were probably the ones he modified or added to achieve that rating. This franchise has potential, and with the right script and the right director (Alfonso Cuaron, anyone?), the sequel could stand not only as a box office hit but also a movie people wouldn't sheepishly admit to seeing.

2. The Call (N)

$17.10 million ($17.10 million)

Kind of surprised on this one. I haven't found anyone who was excited to see The Call, so I'm not sure where it scrounged up $17.10 million. No matter how much money it made, though, I still want to see Halle Berry making Oscar-caliber movies again.

3. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (N)

$10.31 million ($10.31 million)
As I said earlier, yikes on bikes. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone wasn't any worse than Oz the Great and Powerful, so I really don't understand how it flopped so hard.

4. Jack the Giant Slayer (2)

$6.22 million ($53.91 million)
Jack the Giant Slayer still hasn't broken the $100 million mark ... at the worldwide box office. This movie cost $195 million to make and who-knows-how-much to market. Considering that Burt Wonderstone only had a budget of $30 million, Jack the Giant Slayer is 2013's most epic flop.

5. Identity Thief (3)

$4.52 million ($123.71 million)

This is Identity Thief's sixth week in the top five. I don't think anyone saw that coming.

Next week's predictions:

1. Oz: The Great and Powerful

2. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

3. Identity Thief

4. The Call

5. Jack the Giant Slayer

SOURCE: Box Office Mojo